Haute Dining SF: Yank Sing, Top Notch Dim Sum

Everyone who is anyone knows the best place to get dim sum in San Francisco is at Yank Sing. This eatery has gotten so popular that they even had to open a second location just a few blocks away to satisfy all their hungry customers.

The restaurant itself is not impressive by any means. From the outside it looks like nothing special.  It has very plain and basic decor. When I arrived at 12:00pm the place was already packed with patrons. My party was seated at a large round table with a Lazy Susan in the center. Service started immediately. Once we all sat down the women with the dim sum carts started circling the table. We ordered a wide variety of delicacies from the basics like pork buns to shrimp shu mai, to more creative dishes like their Shanghai dumplings. The Shanghai dumpling is one of their signature pieces.  It is a time beanbag-shaped dish of minced Kurobuta Pork, scallion and ginger wrapped and steamed in its own aromatic broth. They even have an instructional video on their website that tells you how to properly consume it. 

 The Art of Eating Shanghai Dumplings

1. Timing: Best eaten immediately, straight from the steamer
2. Dexterity: Pick up carefully without breaking the delicate skin
3. Pairing: Place in spoon and add ginger and vinegar to taste
4. Taste: Aroma, flavor, texture, let the senses decide

It was also recommended that I try the sesame balls, which are light sticky rice-flour balls stuffed with sweet yellow bean puree, rolled in sesame seeds deep-fried until golden brown and crusty. They were so sweet that it was almost like a piece of dessert dim sum.

All in all, it was probably the best dim sum I have ever eaten. I am not alone in my love for this restaurant. It also has won multiple accolades from the Michellin Guide, Zagat Survey, and even won a James Beard Award in 2009.

Yank Sing is located at both 101 Spear St. and 49 Stevenson St. For reservations call 415.781.1111 and 415.541.4949 respectively or visit their website at www.yanksing.com.